Kool Skools
Kool Skools is a multimedia and recording project for secondary school students across the Australian states of Victoria and New South Wales. The projects are open to all secondary schools, council youth agencies and youth clubs. Kool Skools promotes, develops and supports a diverse range of talent and genres of contemporary music. Participants of Kool Skools have the opportunity to work within a professional recording environment to record and package an album of music. At the end of each year an awards night is held where participants have the opportunity to perform some of their songs and are recognised for their work throughout the year.
High profile participants with professional releases
- Missy Higgins
- Delta Goodrem
- Tom Ugly
- Anthony Callea
- The Cat Empire (group)
- Dean Geyer
- Casey Donovan
- Axle Whitehead
- White Summer
- The Mellows
- Say Please
- The Quarters
- Shane Price
- Tim Wheatley
- Natasha Duarte
- Marc Collis
- Anna Mannering
- Jordie Lane
JB HiFi Music Prize Recipients
2007: The Heave (NSW)
2007: [is] Featuring Tom Ugly
2008: Bad Day's Goodnight featuring Natasha Duarté (NSW)
2008: Zygotic (NSW)
2009: Unsafe Thort (VIC)
2009: No Pressure (NSW)
2010: The Kalaharis (VIC)
2010: The Chestnuts (NSW)
2011: The Razz (VIC)
2011: Jeff (NSW)
2012: Kelebec (NSW) 2013: Natasha Eloise (NSW)
2013: Bonney Ranch (VIC)
2014: The Mellows (VIC)
2014: SheWolf (VIC)
2015: Cooper Lower (VIC)
Koolest Skool Award winners
Victoria
- 2023: TBA NOV 2023
- 2022: Mt Lilydale Mercy College
- 2021: Awards This year was cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic
- 2020: Awards This year was cancelled due to the Covid 19 Pandemic
- 2019: Victory Christian College
- 2018: Mount Lilydale Mercy College
- 2017: Mill Park Secondary College
- 2016: Mount Lilydale Mercy College
- 2015: Mill Park Secondary College
- 2014: Emmanuel College, Warrnambool
- 2013: Thomastown SC
- 2012: Notre Dame College
- 2011: Albury Youth Cafe (a combination of Albury/Wodonga schools)
- 2010: Copperfield College
- 2009: Thomastown Secondary College
- 2008: Noble Park Secondary College
- 2007: Notre Dame College
- 2006: Geelong Grammar
- 2005: Notre Dame College
- 2004: Thomastown Secondary College
- 2003: Pakenham Secondary College
- 2002: Wangaratta High School
- 2001: Heathdale Christian College
- 2000: East Gippsland Schools, including Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale
- 1999: Wangaratta High School
- 1998: Billanook College
- 1997: Swinburne Snr Secondary College
New South Wales
- 2023; Project Pending Reinstatement post Covid 19 Interruption
- 2021: Cancelled year due to Covid 19 Pandemic
- 2020: Cancelled year due to Covid 19 Pandemic
- 2019: Cancelled due to Sydney Studio closure
- 2018: Canterbury Girls High School
- 2017: Canterbury Girls High School
- 2016: Mackellar Girls Campus
- 2015: Mackellar Girls Campus
- 2014: St Andrews College
- 2013: N/A
- 2012: N/A
- 2011: Brisbane Water Secondary College
- 2010: Fairfield City Council, Bring It On Festival
- 2009: Brisbane Waters Secondary College
- 2008: Manly Council Youth Services
- 2007: Brisbane Water Secondary College
- 2006: Loseby Park Youth Centre
- 2005: Mackellar Girls Campus
- 2004: (not held in NSW in 2004)
- 2003: Brisbane Water Secondary College
- 2002: Brisbane Water Secondary College
- 2001: Prairiewood Languages High School
- 2000: Port Hacking High School
Recording Studios Involved
Melbourne, Victoria
- Studio 52 1997-2019
- Empire Music Studios (previously Studio 52, new facilities at Heidelberg West, VIC) - 2019 onwards
Sydney, NSW
- Velvet Sound 2000 - 2004
- Troy Horse Studios 2005 - 2010
- Megaphon Studios 2011 - 2016
- Music Feeds Studios 2017 - 2018
Hobart, Tasmania
- Red Planet. 2003 - 2006
Adelaide, SA
- Fat Trax 2003 - 2005
- Mixmasters, Adelaide city based studio. 2006
Brisbane & GC, QLD
- Gingerman Studios - Brian Cadd's Gold Coast home studio
- Troy Horse Brisbane
Perth, WA
- Initially booked for the famous Planet Studios but didn't go ahead due to the studio fire which destroyed the studio prior to any projects confirmed
References
https://www.facebook.com/KoolSkools
The Kool Skools Project - c/o Studio 52 & Empire Music Studios Melbourne (Coordinator: Paul Higgins)